AUBURN - For more than 12 years Alex Orofino has been a fixture behind the bar at Highland Park Golf and Country Club, a friendly face who knows - and is known by - everyone who passes through the club's doors.
Last summer, a series of medical problems left him unable to work for a time. This got friends and club members discussing the idea of holding a benefit on his behalf.
“He had to have back surgery,” said Stan Kolonko, one of the benefit organizers. “After that he had a stroke/heart attack, so he was out longer. By the time he was ready to go back to work he was in a head-on collision on his way back.”
It was on March 26, while commuting to his other job at the Louis Gosset Junior Residential Center in Lansing, that the accident took place.
“I was about a mile and half from work,” Orofino said. “I was in the hospital for about a month and I had physical therapy about three times a week and a lot of leg exercises. Gradually I should get the full use of my legs back.”
It didn't take long for the people at Highland to get into action on Orofino's behalf, Kolonko, who was joined by Art Wenzel in organizing the event, said that Orofino is an important part of the club and that many people were eager to help.
“He knows all the members,” Kolonko said. “He knows all the employees. He knows everyone around here and a lot of people around town. Everyone wanted to do something to help him and his family out.”
Kolonko and Wenzel decided on a Hawaiian luau theme, complete with roast pork and mango chicken.
“We got a lot of help,” Kolonko said. “Everyone here is donating their time. We got the band Tuff Luck to donate their time to play. A lot of places donated items for raffles and auctions. It has been a really good response from all the people that wanted to help.”
Orofino, who was joined by his wife, Dawn, also a club employee, said that while he was still in the hospital they got word that there were plans for an event in his honor.
“It is incredibly awesome,” Dawn said. “The response from people has been overwhelming. I was working today and people were still calling this morning to see what this was all about. A lot of planning went into this from members to co-workers, we love working here and this is just amazing what everyone has done.”
From the food to the leis and tropical-print shirts everyone, including Orofino, brought a festive feel to the celebration.
“It is unbelievable,” Orofino said. “This whole thing is just great what everyone has done and all the people that are here. I love working here, and I can't wait to get back.”
Dawn said that her husband's mental outlook has been strong and he is determined to get back into the swing of things soon. But in the mean time the fundraiser was a great way to lift spirits and really showed the Orofino's what Alex means to the club.
“I just want to thank everyone,” Dawn said. “You can really see that he isn't taken for granted. It is times like these that you really get to see just how much people really do care.”
“He had to have back surgery,” said Stan Kolonko, one of the benefit organizers. “After that he had a stroke/heart attack, so he was out longer. By the time he was ready to go back to work he was in a head-on collision on his way back.”
It was on March 26, while commuting to his other job at the Louis Gosset Junior Residential Center in Lansing, that the accident took place.
“I was about a mile and half from work,” Orofino said. “I was in the hospital for about a month and I had physical therapy about three times a week and a lot of leg exercises. Gradually I should get the full use of my legs back.”
It didn't take long for the people at Highland to get into action on Orofino's behalf, Kolonko, who was joined by Art Wenzel in organizing the event, said that Orofino is an important part of the club and that many people were eager to help.
“He knows all the members,” Kolonko said. “He knows all the employees. He knows everyone around here and a lot of people around town. Everyone wanted to do something to help him and his family out.”
Kolonko and Wenzel decided on a Hawaiian luau theme, complete with roast pork and mango chicken.
“We got a lot of help,” Kolonko said. “Everyone here is donating their time. We got the band Tuff Luck to donate their time to play. A lot of places donated items for raffles and auctions. It has been a really good response from all the people that wanted to help.”
Orofino, who was joined by his wife, Dawn, also a club employee, said that while he was still in the hospital they got word that there were plans for an event in his honor.
“It is incredibly awesome,” Dawn said. “The response from people has been overwhelming. I was working today and people were still calling this morning to see what this was all about. A lot of planning went into this from members to co-workers, we love working here and this is just amazing what everyone has done.”
From the food to the leis and tropical-print shirts everyone, including Orofino, brought a festive feel to the celebration.
“It is unbelievable,” Orofino said. “This whole thing is just great what everyone has done and all the people that are here. I love working here, and I can't wait to get back.”
Dawn said that her husband's mental outlook has been strong and he is determined to get back into the swing of things soon. But in the mean time the fundraiser was a great way to lift spirits and really showed the Orofino's what Alex means to the club.
“I just want to thank everyone,” Dawn said. “You can really see that he isn't taken for granted. It is times like these that you really get to see just how much people really do care.”
